“Overcoming the world means turning ourselves outward, remembering the second commandment: “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” The happiness of our spouse is more important than our own pleasure. Helping our children to love God and keep His commandments is a primary priority. We willingly share our material blessings through tithing, fast offerings, and giving to those in need. And as our spiritual antennas are pointed heavenward, the Lord guides us to those we can help.
The world builds its universe around itself, proudly proclaiming: “Look at me compared to my neighbor! Look at what is mine! See how important I am!”
The world is easily irritated, disinterested, and demanding, loving the cheers of the crowd, while overcoming the world brings humility, empathy, patience, and compassion for those different than yourself.” -Neil L. Andersen
It’s a flawless plan, the way the first and the second commandments work together. We show love for God by loving others, while at the same time putting God first helps us to focus outside of ourselves and to see and feel the need of others. In a perfect world these two great commandments are inseparable, they co-exist and one is not possible without the other. Unfortunately we are not perfect, therefore we have to constantly work at both of these and sometimes one lacks. The good news is as we try to keep the commandments to our best ability, we are able to lean on one until the balance is re-calibrated in our lives. For example as we put God first, we will naturally develop a soft heart that is sensitive to the promptings of the the Holy Ghost which will inevitably guide us to minister to others needs. As we serve and love others we will be filled with God’s love and it will naturally pull us closer to him. So the answer to fixing problems in these two areas is to keep trying and to hang on to the area of strength with faith and desire to increase in the areas of weakness!
Our humility in desiring to follow God will help us be a better neighbor. It will help us to recognize where we can improve. I feel that one of my spiritual gifts in forgiveness–I am a natural forgiver as forgiveness generally comes easily to me. While visiting a sister in Utah, the relief society teacher challenged us to say a silent prayer and to ponder a grudge that we were holding, then to write it down. I sat there so proud of myself for not having any grudges. I offered a prayer of what I would call “help me if you can, but I’m pretty good”, then returned to my confident position. I must have had a bit of softness to my prideful heart, because slowly, unexpectedly, a slight grudge slipped into my mind. I almost laughed to think that I would consider that a grudge, because I don’t hold grudges. Then I thought a little more and almost in complete shock realized I was definitely holding a grudge from a couple years ago. Luckily for me, I listened, and accepted this humbling lesson, because I offered a second prayer, this time with meekness. Immediately after closing my prayer my eyes filled with tears, and I almost lost it sitting there in the middle of strangers. A deeper grudge came to mind, and I knew that I needed the Lord to let it go. I had not realized that I was so bitter, and that this situation had been festering inside me unnoticed. Since that day, I have been able to resolve my two grudges and I have come to realize that even though forgiveness comes easily to me, if I want to follow the Lord completely, I need to be aware of times when I am not so forgiving.
Everyone has a weakness when it comes to loving the Lord completely and being a perfect neighbor. It’s how life works, because the adversary wants us to fail. He doesn’t want us to obey the Lord; instead, he wants nothing more than to destroy the blessings that accompany obeying the commandments. The good news is that the Lord has not required perfection from us, but he has asked us to be humble and responsive to the teachings of the Holy Ghost. The Lord asks us to do our best, and then do a little better the next day, and a little better the next one after that. With this simple pattern of improving a tiny bit every day, we will find ourselves becoming the modern-day Good Samaritan–changing lives one simple act at a time. As we do this we will start to see our neighbors (everyone) as precious children of God.
“It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship. … There are no ordinary people. … Your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses” C. S. Lewis
“Fill your heart with love for others….Try to truly see everyone around you as a child of God. Minister to them—regardless of whether their names appear on your ministering sister or brother list.
Laugh with them. Rejoice with them. Weep with them. Respect them. Heal, lift, and strengthen them.
Strive to emulate the love of Christ and have compassion for others—even to those who are unkind to you, who mock you and wish to cause you harm. Love them and treat them as fellow children of Heavenly Father.” -Dieter F. Uchtdorf
-Sherri Jorgensen
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